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Academy & Flight Safety • Re: Aircraft down near Virginia (Beachwood area) 12:37 PM (2 hours ago)

For a person learning how to fly, on final approach, it is imperative that an instructor teaches a student on a light piston, that power controls rate of decent and attitude controls speed.

These are basic fundamentals.

One needs to be on the PAPIS, or if no PAPIS, the picture that needs to be seen outside to instill this in a student.

Glide approaches do not accomplish that.

Statistics: Posted by southside — Sat Apr 05, 2025 10:37 pm

Academy & Flight Safety • Re: Aircraft down near Virginia (Beachwood area) 12:11 PM (2 hours ago)

I flew a few different C-172s typically in strong south easters in the Western Cape during the summer months, and each had it's own characteristics...
This is PPL on VFR approaches that I am talking about and from experience...
ZS-SLM (C-172 Skyhawk) had exceptional gliding capabilities, if you were slightly hot and high on finals, you reduced throttle initially and increased throttle as required. On ZS-OHI (C-172), she flew like a brick and you were on the throttle all the way to the runway. ZS-SMS (C-172) was in-between. ZS-JDX (C-172 variable pitch with retractable gear) also had different characteristics...

Statistics: Posted by Coxxie — Sat Apr 05, 2025 10:11 pm

Aircraft for Sale • Re: Aircraft for sale 12:07 PM (2 hours ago)

PA-24-180 Comanche

Statistics: Posted by Richard Smit — Sat Apr 05, 2025 10:07 pm

Model Personal Classifieds • [Wanted] Plane transport from Durban to JHB/PTA/Witbank area 11:59 AM (2 hours ago)

Item Name: Plane transport from DBN to JHB/PTA/Witbank/Middelburg
Description: 1/4 scale cub
Price:
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Statistics: Posted by Heinrich Horn — Sat Apr 05, 2025 9:59 pm

Academy & Flight Safety • Re: Aircraft down near Virginia (Beachwood area) 11:38 AM (3 hours ago)

Sorry folks, I absolutely don't understand this conversation.

Some of us were lucky enough to train when glide approaches from 1000' on base, were the standard way of landing.

Later, after solo, we were taught that it was possible to extend the circuit out of gluing distance, and then use power to get us to the threshold. This then became the normal way of approaching.

So, by definition, a powered approach requires power to get you there - at no stage before crossing the fence can you throttle fully back and glide all the way.

It's simply not possible to stay within gliding distance of touchdown if you are doing a powered approach.

So with this accident if the engine refused to produce power the aircraft was bound to come short. No reflection on the student or instructor. UNLESS the loss of power was due to carb-icing. This is very possible in a 150 or 152 particularly in the high humidity of that area.

jim

Uncle Jim,

I spoke to the instructor as he is a friend of mine. (He actually did my instructors rating training) he was flying with a pupe who got a bit low on approach due to some downdrafts and “windshear” (often happens at FAVG) he then told him to add power to regain his approach path. (Early, before it became an issue) He repeated himself and still no power was added. Student told him I’m trying but the throttle won’t move. They now realized they have an issue as they can’t fix this predicament they are in. They ended up flying it into the trees as soft as possible.

I’ll be very impressed if any instructor can tell me they have never had to patter a student to add power because they got low. This happens. They are learning… They do not get it right every single time and they need to see the picture of what is right and wrong. If you never let them see what it looks like to be low and how to fix it how will they ever learn.

Yes in an ideal world we can all do glide approaches every day. However if you are training someone to become a career pilot you need to show them how to manage the energy since they will definitely need this skill later on in their careers. This was a training flight with a mechanical issue that ended up in the trees short of the runway.


This isn’t a pilot error/training situation this is 100% a maintenance issue and that’s what should be addressed and improved to prevent these sort of accidents in future.

Statistics: Posted by Larry vd Merwe — Sat Apr 05, 2025 9:38 pm

Academy & Flight Safety • Re: Aircraft down near Virginia (Beachwood area) 11:20 AM (3 hours ago)

When I learned to fly in ancient times this accident would not have happened .

There was no rule in part 61(not even sure there was a part 61) that said - thou shall not rely on your engine below 1000 ft and that you should glide to the threshhold and if you were too high dont reach for the Flap handle because there isnt one - Do a neat liitle sideslip until you are back on Glide - it worked every time .

When the first Cherokee showed up on the flight line that was the end of that neat litle practice that assured your arrival everytime even if your propellor was just an ornament at that stage .

Good day Volo, the PIC of this aircraft has been instructing for +-57ish years. He was from what I understand doing training with a student. They got a bit low and unsettled on approach (Virginia Shuffle for those that know will know) and student attempted to add a bit of power to rectify this (very normal in a training situation). The throttle did not respond as they expected and the end result is pretty clear.

I agree with you on not getting low and slow, but whilst doing training and instructing students, that very well might happen or even be intentional to demonstrate how to fix/recover from the situation. (Training) Imagine never getting taught how to recover from getting low on approach and just being taught how to be high and fix it. (that’s what you recommendation implies)

Kind regards
Larry

Then teach it where there are no trees or any obstacles on finals.

Statistics: Posted by zander — Sat Apr 05, 2025 9:20 pm

Aviation Photography • Re: Seen at FAGM (Rand) 11:03 AM (3 hours ago)

Cessna 182 Skylane ZS-POD
2 April 2025

Statistics: Posted by Bearcat — Sat Apr 05, 2025 9:03 pm

Aviation Photography • Re: Seen at FAWB (Wonderboom) 10:54 AM (3 hours ago)

Beechcraft Baron 58 ZS-AAS
6 March 20925

Statistics: Posted by Bearcat — Sat Apr 05, 2025 8:54 pm

Aviation Photography • Re: Seen at FAWB (Wonderboom) 10:45 AM (3 hours ago)

Piaggio P-166S Albatross ZS-NJW
6 March 2025

Statistics: Posted by Bearcat — Sat Apr 05, 2025 8:45 pm

Aviation Photography • Re: Seen at FAWB (Wonderboom) 10:44 AM (3 hours ago)

Jabiru ZU-CLR
6 March 2025

Statistics: Posted by Bearcat — Sat Apr 05, 2025 8:44 pm